Mold blowing and squeeze machine



L. F. MILLER MOLD BLOWING AND SQUEEZE MACHINE March 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1958 .IJAI

INVENTOR.

` LEON F. MILLER ATTORNEYS March 7, 1961 Filed Aug. 4, 1958 L. E. MILLER 2,973,562

MOLD BLOWING AND SQUEEZE MACHINE 2 She'ets-She'et 2 f INVENTOR.

LEON F. MILLER ATTORNEYS Leon F. Miller, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor to The sborn Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of ohio Filed Aug. 4, 1958,y Ser. No. 752,850

6 Claims. (Cl. 22-36) The present invention relates generally as indicated to a mold blowing and squeeze machine and more particularkly to such machine for producing foundry molds, cores,

and the like, the sand being blown into the sand-receiving or molding chamber from the side thereof and being squeezed endwise directly and uniformly against the pattern in the foundry flask.

It is known in the art to utilize sand blowing and squeezing operations in the production of foundry molds but heretofore it has been proposed to blow the sand in from the top of a molding chamber dened in part -by a foundry flask and the pattern therein and then to vertically squeeze the body of sand in the mold chamber. In order to accomplish that it is known to provide horizontally shiftable blow and squeeze heads which are alternately positioned in register with the top open end of the ask. When the squeeze head is located above the top end of the flask, the raising of the table upon which the ask is supported or the lowering of the squeeze head effects vertical squeezingv of the body of sand against the pattern. It also has been proposed to provide coaxial blow and squeeze heads, but this involves certain complications with respect to the closing of the sand reservoir discharge opening that leads into the molding chamber and to the telescopic sliding ts of the squeeze head with the side walls of the molding chamber.

It has long been the practice to form foundry cores by means of a sand blowing operation such as that described in Ellrns Pat. No. 2,545,944, for example. In the manufacture of foundry molds, however, there have been certain problems involved in employing a blowing operation and it has been conventional practice simply to l ll a foundry flask with sand and then to jolt and squeeze the sand against the pattern in the ask. A blowing operation, however, distributes the sand with more uniform pressure against all surfaces of the pattern and is more rapid.

It is one main object of the present invention to provide a mold blowing and squeeze machine which is simple and compact in structure and by which foundry molds may be rapidly and efficiently produced.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mold blowing and squeeze machine in which the sand is blown into a sand-receiving or molding chamber through the side wall thereof and in which the blown body of sand in the chamber is directly and uniformly squeezed against the pattern.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sand blowing and squeeze machine which combines the blowing and squeezing operations in a novel manner to effect itself constitutes a valve to close the lateral inlet opening .through which the sand was blown into the molding chamber.

Patented Mar. 7, 196i I-t is another object of this invention to provide a sand blowing and squeeze machine which employs a fluid pressure actuated exible squeeze head that is operative to apply substantially uniform compacting pressure on the sand in the ask irrespective of varying depths or intricate configuration of the pattern surfaces.

l-t is another object of this invention to provide a sand blowing and squeeze machine in which the' molding chamber is disposed in a vertical position with the sand being blown downwardly thereinto from a superimposed sand reservoir and funnel and in which the squeeze head moves horizontally to compact the blown body of sand directly against the vertically disposed pattern and pattern plate that constitutes an end of the molding chamber.-

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical cross-section View showing one embodiment of the present sand blowing and squeeze machine;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section view taken substantially along the line 2 2, Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross-section View taken substantially along the line 3 3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section view showing the parts of this machine in the positions they assume when sand is blown into the molding chamber; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-section view similar to Fig. 4 except showing the parts of this machine in the positions they assume after the squeeze head has been actuated to uniformly compact the blown body of sand directly against the pattern.

Referring now inv detail to the sand blowing and squeeze machine herein illustrated, the same comprises aV sand reservoir 1 into whichfoundry sand is supplied from a suitable hopper (not shown) andfrom which the sand is blown under the influence of air under pressure, for example, through a funnel 2 which terminates in a flat discharge spout 3 leading into the top side of a molding chamber 4 defined between a diaphragm retainer 5 which is iixedly mounted on the base 6 of the machine and the space within a conventional foundry ask 7 which, together with the pattern plate S- carrying pattern 9, is retained on a vertically disposed table 10 by the hooks 11. The empty flask 7 and pattern plate 8 may be slid in horizontallybetween the guide channels formed by the hooks 11.

Spaced within the sand reservoir 1 is a slotted sleeve 12 which serves to uniformly distribute the air introduced under pressure through the port 14 to act on the body of sand in the reservoir l and to, in effect, fluidize the sand so that it will readily ow through the funnel and into the molding chamber 4 under the inuence of the air pressure entering through the port 14 under the control of the conventional blow valve (not shown).

The table lil aforesaid, which carries the pattern plate 8 and pattern 9, and the foundry ask 7, is moved horizontally toward and away from the open recessed side of the diaphragm retainer 5 by any suitable means such as the piston 15 and cylinder 16 assembly here shown, the piston rod 17 of the piston 15 being secured to a boss 18 at the center of the table 10. As evident, the lefthand end of the flask 7 will be tightly held againstv the end face of the retainer S to form the closed molding chamber 4 for receiving sand from the reservoir l and funnel 2, the retainer 5 being provided with a series of conventional screen vents 19 to permit the escape of air from the sand as the sand is compacted in chamber 4.

In order to apply uniform squeeze on the body of sand blown into the chamber, and to compact the sand firmly against the surfaces of the pattern 9, there is provided in the retainer 5 a flexible or resiliently deformable diaphragm 20 as of rubber, or rubberlike material, the peripheral flange of which is clamped between the retainer parts 21 and 22. One side of the diaphragm 2G faces the pattern 9 and the opposite side faces the retainer part 21 which is provided with an inlet port 23 for squeezing iiuid which may be liquid or gas, -as desired, but preferably, air under pressure is used because an air pressure supply source is already available for the blowing operation. Similarly, the piston-cylinder assembly -l6 may be pneumatically actuated for the same reason, but obviously a hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly may be substituted, if desired.

It is now evident that when vfluid under pressure Iis admitted through the port 23 in the retainer part 21, it will act on the diaphragm Zit tending to force it toward the right, as viewed in Figs. l and 4, to compact the body of sand that has been previously blown into the sand-receiving or molding chamber 4 defined by the flask 7, the pattern plate 8, the pattern 9 and the retainer 5.

In the case of a pattern 9 having a configuration as the one herein shown for purposes of illustration only, the d-iaphragm will assume a final shape, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to apply a substantially uniform compacting pressure on the sand against the surfaces of the pattern 9. It is also to be noted that as the diaphragm 20 is flexed or deformed from its Fig. 4 condition to its Fig. 5 condition, it overlies the discharge spout 3 of the -funnel 2 to preclude displacement of the sand from the chamber 4 back into the funnel 2 and reservoir 1.

After the squeeze operation has been completed, the fluid pressure behind the diaphragm 20 is released and the piston 15 in the cylinder 16 is actuated so as to move toward the right to withdraw the completed mold in the ask 7 away from the retainer 5, whereupon the completed mold may be slid out laterally from between the hooks or lugs 11 of the table itl. The next empty iiask and patternthen may be slipped into position for blowing and squeezing of sand thereinto following the movement of the empty flask 7 into abutting engagement with the retainer 5.

As a -specic example, in the case of a ask 7 which is about twenty inches square and about seven inches deep, and of a retainer 5 that has a recess about three and one-half inches deep from the left-hand edge of the ask 7 to the diaphragm 20 when the latter is in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 position, it has been found that with ordinary foundry sand, the blowing operation may be done with an air pressure of about 60 to 90 p.s.i. The opening in the spout 3 may be of about three-quarter inch width and about twelve and one-half inches length, the sand being uniformly blown into chamber 4 to completely ll it with sand and to substantially uniformly compact the body of sand against the surfaces of the pattern 9. In that particular case, the diaphragm was actuated by air ata pressure of about 80 to 100 p.s.i., such pressure being effective to uniformly squeeze the sand body against the pattern 9 to produce a superior foundry mold. The diaphragm 29, as aforesaid, may be made of rubber or rubber-like material and good results have been obtained with a diaphragm of about 1716 inch thickness having a normal cured shape, as shown in Figs. l and 4 so as to beself-returning when the uid pressure therebehind is released. Obviously, if desired, the port 23 may be `communicated with Aa vacuum line to ensure that the `diaphragm 20 will be restored to its original Fig. 1 pofsition following thesqueeze operation so that Vthe chamber 4 will accommodate an adequate volume of sand. Also, if desired, mechanical means may be employed -to forcefully retract the diaphragm 20 back into the retainer 5.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I .therefore vparticularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

l. A foundry molding machine comprising a mold chamber having a mold forming portion at an end thereof and including a ring-like portion with an opening and with screen vents in the side wall, a blowing machine operative to blow molding sand through such opening into said chamber, the air entrained in the molding sand escaping through such screen vents, and squeeze means at the other end of said chamber operative to squeeze such sand in said chamber against such mold Vforming portion, said squeeze means comprising a flexible diaphragm adapted to be deformed by duid pressure therebehind toward such mold forming portion.

2. A foundry molding machine comprising a lmold chamber having a mold forming portion at an end thereof and an opening in the side wall, a blowing machine operative to blow molding sand through such opening into said chamber, and squeeze means at the other end of said chamber operative to squeeze such sand in said chamber against such mold forming portion, said squeeze means comprising a flexible diaphragm adapted to be deformed by fluid pressure therebehind toward such mold forming portion, said diaphragm when thus deformed by -uid pressure being disposed to close such opening to preclude displacement of molding sand from said chamber into such opening.

3. In a foundry molding machine including a blowing machine and a chamber into which said blowing machine is operative to blow molding sand; said chamber, in part, being delined by a vertically disposed ring-like portion formed with an opening at the top with which said blowing machine communicates; means operative to clamp a 'flask in vertical position in abutting engagement with one end of said ring-like portion to form a lateral extension of said chamber and to clamp a pattern support against said flask to close the chamber as extended by said flask with a pattern on said support projecting into the space defined within said flask.

4. The machine of claim 3, including a flexible fluidtight diaphragm secured within said chamber to extend across the other end of said ring-like portion and adapted to be retracted toward the side of said chamber away from said ask and pattern and to be forced toward the latter by admission of fluid pressure therebehind.

5. In a foundry molding machine including a blowing machine and a chamber into which said blowing machine is operative to blow molding sand; said chamber having an opening at the top with which said blowing machine communicates; a generally vertically disposed diaphragm retainer providing a recess of which a flexiblediaphragm constitutes an end wall of said chamber adjacent which such opening extends into said chamber; a generally horizontally movable flask support operative to clamp a flask in vertical position against the open end of said retainer and to clamp a pattern support against said flask to constitute, together with a pattern, the other end wall of said chamber; and diaphragm ilexing means operative -to flex said diaphragm toward such pattern and pattern support to squeeze sand blown into said chamber, said diaphragm, when thus ilexed, overlying such opening 'thereby precluding displacement of sand from said chamber through such opening.

6. A foundry molding machine comprising a mold chamber having a mold forming portion at an end thereof and an opening in the side wall; a blowing machine operative to blow molding sand through such opening into said chamber thereby to form a mold therein that is compacted against the surfaces of said mold forming portion, the side wall of said chamber, and the end of said chamber; and squeeze means constituting such other end of said chamber against which such mold is compacted operative to squeeze substantially the entire cross-section of such mold bounded by such side wall against said moldfonning portion thereby to form a uniformly compacted finished mold; said squeeze means comprising a iiexible diaphragm which is initially of generally cup-shaped form including a peripheral ange that forms a part of the side wall of said chamber and which is adapted to be deformed by uid pressure therebehind toward said moldforming portion to exert substantially uniform squeezing force on such mold irrespective of the configuration of said mold-forming portion, said diaphragm when exed 6 as aforesaid beng reversed so that the bottom Wall thereof which forms such other end of said chamber is in substantially unstressed condition during the mold squeezing operation and so that its peripheral liange is in overlying relation over such opening to preclude displacement of molding sand from said chamber into such opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,694,130 Mallory Dec. 4, 1928 2,445,141 Hardy July 13, 1948 2,682,690 Worthington July 6, 1954 2,698,976 Taccone Jan. 11, 1955 2,757,424 Daniel et al. Aug. 7, 1956 2,864,136 Taccone Dec. 16, 1958 

